Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
1150 Riverside Drive
Lewistown, PA 17044-1979
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
2605 Interstate Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Minimum Standard for Accreditation (MSA)
Original program:
Revised:
6/1998
6/2013
Course Title: G-288 Local Volunteer and Donations Management (G-288)
Length of Course: 12 Hours
Lecture/Lab Breakdown: 11 Hours / 1 Hour
Prerequisites: FEMA Independent Study IS-288, IS-700.a, and IS-100.b
Referenced Texts: FEMA G-288 Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program
Student Manual. Instructor Guide and PowerPoint provided on CD by PEMA.
Course Goal: To provide local emergency management personnel and voluntary agency
representatives with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and execute an
effective volunteer and donations management program as well as develop a volunteer
and donations management support annex.
Course Description: The course is designed to strengthen the abilities of local jurisdictions to
successfully prepare for and handle volunteer and donations management issues that may
arise. The course content and activities may also serve as a template, thereby enhancing
uniformity in addressing areas of donated unsolicited goods, unaffiliated volunteers, and
undesignated cash.
Description of Methodology: Instructional methodology will include interactive lectures,
group discussions, and practical activities using disaster scenarios, daily reviews and assessments,
and optional Web demonstration on information management used by the local jurisdiction.
Student Equipment/Supply Needs: Note taking materials (Pen, Pencil, and paper).
Equipment/Audiovisual/Supply requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Laptop/desktop computer
LCD Projector
Tables/chairs
Easels/pads, paper and pencils/markers, Post-it notes
Classroom (adequate for learning environment)
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION
G-288 Local Volunteer and Donations Management \
Page 2 of 3
Special Notes & Conditions for Students: This course is designed for local-level staffs to
include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Local Volunteer/Donations Coordinator
Coordinator’s Alternate
Leading stakeholders of voluntary organizations
State/local VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) Chair or Designee
Public Information Officer or Liaison
Program Functional Leads
Government-Private Sector Liaison
Special Notes & Conditions for Instructors: Lead Instructors will be chosen based on a
combination of their Volunteer and Donations Management training, qualifications, and
experience.
1. Lead Instructors (3)
a. All instructors to be approved by the State Volunteer/Donations Coordinator, in
concert with the State Training Officer, prior to course offering
b. Composition of instructors: one individual from State, one individual from a
local jurisdiction, and one individual from non-profit sector
c. Training experience using adult learning principles
d. Positive attitude
e. Enthusiasm about subject
f. Good communication skills
2. Subject Area Instructors (Guest Presenters; Panelists)
a. Expertise in subject matter
b. Understand expectations of course objectives
c. Good communication skills
d. Engaging speaker
3. Areas of Subject Matter Expertise
Overview of local Volunteer and Donations Management
COURSE OUTLINE
Time
Content
DAY 1
01:00
01:30
01:30
01:30
01:00
01:20
01:20
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Introduction and Welcome
Volunteer and Donations Strategies and Management
Collaboration and Partnership
Managing Public Education and Information
Managing Unsolicited Donated Goods
Managing Unaffiliated Volunteers
Managing Undesignated Cash
Notes
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION
G-288 Local Volunteer and Donations Management Page 3 of 3
DAY 2
01:30 Unit 7
01:30 Unit 8
00:45
00:45
Information Management
Local Plans
Course Review
Exam
Competency Evaluation Mechanism: A 10 question open book exam. Exam is considered
passing with a score of 70%. Candidate has one (1) retest attempt to pass.
Learning Outcomes (Behavioral Objectives: At the completion of this course students will be
able to:
1. Identify key organizations and individuals who have a role in managing unaffiliated
volunteers, unsolicited goods, and undesignated cash donations in disasters.
2. Identify specific agencies and organizations and how they collaborate to form a
Volunteer and Donations Coordination Team (VDCT).
3. Develop an effective public education and information structure to support the successful
management of unaffiliated volunteers, unsolicited goods, and undesignated cash
donations in disasters.
4. Identify how to effectively manage the surge of unsolicited goods.
5. Gather information from organizations, agencies, volunteers, media, and others for
donations intelligence purposes.
6. Facilitate the matching of unaffiliated volunteers with appropriate organizations or
agencies during program implementation.
7. List the planning considerations for cash donations.
8. Incorporate technology needed to successfully manage information on unaffiliated
volunteers and unsolicited goods.
9. Relate volunteer and donations management program responsibilities to the planning
components of the annex.
Questions or Comments: Please contact the Assistant State Fire Academy
Administrator